Carborundum Stair Insert Band 55mm, 1m 1.5m & 2m

When a stair tread needs grip that will still be there in ten years, carborundum is the infill to specify. This is a 55mm band of aluminium oxide grit bonded into a resin matrix, supplied in ready-cut 1m, 1.5m and 2m lengths and in twelve infill colours. 55mm is the widest band in the range: the specification for deep goings on heavily used public stairs, and for landings and ramp thresholds where the grip needs to cover the whole step-off zone rather than a single line.

Why carborundum rather than a PVC insert

It does not polish out

A soft PVC or rubber insert grips well when new, then slowly burnishes under traffic until the ribs are rounded and the wet performance has quietly halved. Aluminium oxide is one of the hardest abrasives in common use; the grit wears at roughly the same rate as the resin holding it, so fresh sharp edges keep being exposed instead of being smoothed away. The manufacturer guarantees the insert for 10 years against premature wear.

It works outdoors

The resin matrix is unaffected by frost, standing water or UV, and there is no plasticiser to migrate out and leave the band brittle. The same product is used internally and externally.

Where it is used

Deep-going entrance steps, external concrete flights, transport interchanges and stadium stairs, landings and ramp thresholds, plant rooms and workshops, and refurbishment on stone or terrazzo where a wide routed groove can be cut.

Specifications

Choosing the right option

Width. 55mm is the widest band available. Where the going is a standard depth and one narrower line will do, a 20mm or 25mm strip is the tidier and cheaper detail.

Length. Order the bar that covers your going in one piece. If your treads are an awkward width, or every flight differs, order from the cut-to-size version of this insert and we will cut each piece to the millimetre between 250mm and 2000mm.

Colour. All twelve infills cost the same and carry the same grit, so the choice is about visual contrast rather than performance. The manufacturer publishes an average light reflectance value for each colour, and guidance on stair visibility generally looks for roughly a 30-point LRV difference between the grip band and the tread around it, so these figures are the quickest way to sense-check a combination before you order. The carrier behind the grit is black on every colour.

The speckled and stone-effect infills read as a textured finish rather than a solid band, which sits better on stone and terrazzo refurbishment; Chalk and Amber are the usual picks where a genuinely light, high-visibility band is wanted against a dark tread. All LRV figures are the manufacturer's published averages and vary a little between batches, so ask us for a sample if the contrast is critical to a specification.

Installation, use and care

Rout a groove to suit the band, checking tread thickness and any reinforcement first, or fix to the surface where the tread cannot be cut. The manufacturer notes that section size varies slightly between batches, so take a sample before you cut or cast your channels. The substrate must be clean, dry and free of laitance. Bed in an exterior-grade adhesive worked well into the groove, weight until cured, and keep the band at least 15mm back from the front arris. Cutting carborundum blunts a fine-toothed blade quickly and the dust is abrasive, so cut outdoors with eye protection, or order cut to size. Clean with a stiff brush and water; do not use solvent or acid cleaners on the resin.

Ordering and delivery

Stock lengths are dispatched from inventory. Choose your length and infill colour above. Standard UK mainland delivery is a flat rate.